Public School Review - Established 2003

Thatcher High School vs. Safford High School

Should you attend Thatcher High School or Safford High School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Thatcher High School
601 North 3rd Avenue
Thatcher, AZ 85552
: 
8/
10
Top 30%
Safford High School
1400 W 11th St
Safford, AZ 85546
: 
7/
10
Top 50%
Top Rankings

Thatcher High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Arizona for:

Category
Attribute
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
n/a
Overview
Thatcher High School in Thatcher, AZ, serves 512 students in grades 9–12 with a student–teacher ratio of 17:1, which is higher than the state average ratio of 16:1.
Math proficiency is 40–44%, which is higher than the Arizona state average of 34% but below the district average of 42%; reading proficiency is 55–59%, higher than the state average of 40%.
Science proficiency ranges from 25–29%, approximately equal to the state average of 24%, reflecting stable performance in recent years.
The graduation rate is 95%, significantly higher than the Arizona state average of 77%, ranking in the top 5% statewide for graduation outcomes.
Enrollment increased from 439 students in 2014 to 512 in 2023, while eligibility for free or reduced–price lunch fluctuated, currently at about 26% combined, indicating some socioeconomic variation over time.
Safford High School in Safford, AZ, serves 846 students in grades 9–12 with a student–teacher ratio of 24:1, which is higher than the state average ratio of approximately 21:1.
Math proficiency ranges from 35% to 39%, which is approximately equal to the state average of 34%, but shows a decline from 55% in 2019 to 35% in 2023.
Reading proficiency is between 35% and 39%, which is lower than the state average of 40%, and has declined from 55% in 2019.
Science proficiency ranges from 20% to 24%, approximately equal to the state average of 24%, based on the most recent data.
The graduation rate is between 85% and 89%, higher than the state average of 77%, with rates consistently outperforming the state over recent years.
Minority enrollment stands at 60% with 467 Hispanic students and 12 American Indian students, reflecting a diverse student body in this Safford, AZ public high school.
Enrollment has remained stable around 830–860 students over recent years, with a notable increase in students eligible for free lunch from 20% in 2022 to 28% in 2023, indicating recent changes in socioeconomic composition.
The school's overall ranking improved from #1125 in 2021 to #748 in 2023, though it remains outside the top 700 in Arizona.
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
512 students
846 students
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Thatcher High School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of students at Safford High School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
% Male | % Female
50% | 50%
52% | 48%
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Thatcher High School.
This pie chart depicts the gender distribution at Safford High School.
Total Classroom Teachers
30 teachers
36 teachers
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Thatcher High School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the total number of teachers at Safford High School over the years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
24:1
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Thatcher High School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and the state of Arizona, utilizing data from multiple years and featuring the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the student-teacher ratio at Safford High School with the average student-teacher ratio for public schools in the Safford Unified District (4218) and the state of Arizona, utilizing data from multiple years and featuring the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.

Test Scores

#418 out of 1921 schools in AZ
(Top 30%)
#748 out of 1921 schools in AZ
(Top 50%)
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of Thatcher High School, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart illustrates the overall school ranking of Safford High School, encompassing data from multiple years, including the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
40-44%
(Top 30% in AZ)
35-39%
(Top 50% in AZ)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Thatcher High School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and Arizona public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Safford High School who have achieved proficiency or higher in Math with the average percentages observed in the Safford Unified District (4218) and Arizona public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
55-59%
(Top 20% in AZ)(21-22 School Year Data)
35-39%
(Top 50% in AZ)(21-22 School Year Data)
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Thatcher High School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and Arizona public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students at Safford High School who have achieved proficiency or higher in RLA (Reading and Language Arts) with the average percentages observed in the Safford Unified District (4218) and Arizona public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2021-22 school year.
25-29%
(Top 50% in AZ)(21-22 School Year Data)
20-24%
(Top 50% in AZ)(21-22 School Year Data)
≥95%
(Top 5% in AZ)
85-89%
(Top 50% in AZ)
This chart presents a comparison of the graduation rate of Thatcher High School with the average graduation rate observed in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and Arizona public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the graduation rate of Safford High School with the average graduation rate observed in the Safford Unified District (4218) and Arizona public schools over several years, with the most recent data from the 2022-23 school year.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Thatcher High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Safford High School by grade.
Grade 9 Students
126
231
Grade 10 Students
143
236
Grade 11 Students
131
200
Grade 12 Students
112
179

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
1%
2%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as American Indian at Thatcher High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as American Indian in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as American Indian at Safford High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as American Indian in the Safford Unified District (4218) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Asian
n/a
n/a
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Thatcher High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2019-20 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Asian at Safford High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Asian in the Safford Unified District (4218) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Hispanic
23%
55%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Thatcher High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic at Safford High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Hispanic in the Safford Unified District (4218) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Black
n/a
1%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Thatcher High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2019-20 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as Black at Safford High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as Black in the Safford Unified District (4218) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% White
74%
40%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Thatcher High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as White at Safford High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as White in the Safford Unified District (4218) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
2%
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Thatcher High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
This chart presents a comparison of the percentage of students who identify as two or more races at Safford High School, versus the percentage of public school students who identify as two or more races in the Safford Unified District (4218) and in Arizona, utilizing data collected over several years with the most recent figures pertaining to the 2022-23 school year.
0.40
0.54
This chart showcases the diversity score of Thatcher High School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and Arizona, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the diversity score of Safford High School, juxtaposed with the average diversity score for public schools in the Safford Unified District (4218) and Arizona, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
18%
38%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Thatcher High School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and Arizona, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for free lunch at Safford High School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for free lunch in the Safford Unified District (4218) and Arizona, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
7%
4%
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Thatcher High School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Thatcher Unified District (4219) and Arizona, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
This chart showcases the percentage of students eligible for reduced-price lunch at Safford High School, juxtaposed with the average percentage of public school students eligible for reduced-price lunch in the Safford Unified District (4218) and Arizona, utilizing data that spans several years and includes the most recent figures from the 2022-23 school year.
 
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